Monthly Archives: July 2009

Natural Remedy for Common Cold

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The common cold is something that almost everyone has experienced in their life.  When you look for a natural remedy the options available to you are numerous.  We will first look at the typical symptoms you might experience with a common cold; then we will review how a natural remedy might be able to be used to combat it.

The common cold has a typical incubation period of 1-3 days after the infection has been passed to you.  During that time you body starts to try and ward of the disease and if successful you might not have even known you had a cold; however most are not that likely and develop the common cold.

The most resident symptoms you will experience with a common cold are:

•    Fever between 98-101.5 degrees
•    Watery eyes
•    Coughing
•    Running Nose
•    Slight headache
•    Itchy or sore throat
•    Weakness in your body

While you start a natural remedy make sure to keep an eye on these symptoms; if you should get a spike in fever, nausea or vomiting then you might have the flu or influenza which would definitely require your doctor’s advice.

As it was mentioned earlier the numbers of natural remedies for the common called are abundant.  In this article we will just a review a few of the more common ones, Vitamin C, chicken soup, liquids, and garlic.

Vitamin C

The tough immune system will ward off a common cold faster than most remedies but if you end up with a cold it still can have a great affect on your recovery.  While organs themselves are a good source of vitamin C it might not be the best choice to take due to the acid from the fruit.  Just take Vitamin C in a pill form during this time.

Chicken Soup

Chicken soup can be a very effective natural remedy for the common cold as the amino acid cysteine acts to keep your airways clear and prevents further congestion from occurring.

Liquids

Aside from making sure you drink lots of water during this time herbal tea can provide the necessary natural remedy of healing to occur in the body.  Also, adding a bit of cinnamon can also promote a faster healing too.

Garlic

Aside from the garlic that may be present in your homemade chicken soup, taking a bit of fresh garlic can help fight off your cold.  There are some antibacterial compounds in garlic that are the reason why it can be helpful as a natural remedy.

The common cold season can hit any time and it is always best to be prepared ahead of time for it.  So, where possible, make sure you are doing what you can to keep from spreading the common cold; but if you catch one use any of the above remedies for help.

Natural Remedy for Food Poisoning

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My brother-in-law and his wife just got back from a nice night out on the town.  It was their anniversary and everything was going incredibly well.  They just started to get settled in for the night by watching their favorite chick flick; but then all of a sudden he doubled over with pain.  For the next hour, whatever he had in him was no longer their but, he was not out of the water yet.

Food Poisoning, also known as botulism, affects up to 76 million Americans each year, is responsible for well over 300,000 hospitalizations and for some the affects of this illness are deadly.   Worldwide this is something that affects every nation and country.  The treatment for food poisoning sometimes requires medical however, most cases are mild and this is something that can be treated through a natural remedy.
First we will look at the symptoms you might experience if you are having food poisoning.  The onset of food poisoning occurs suddenly and typically within 36-48hrs of the food being consumed.  The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:

•    Vomiting
•    Weakened muscles
•    Diarrhea
•    Slight fever
•    Stomach pain
•    Headache

Next, we will look at some of the more effective natural remedies for food poisoning:

•    Drink significant amounts of water and/or juice
•    Drinking mint tea can calm your stomach
•    Fennels seeds can be effective if stomach cramping persists
•    As your body will lose needed electrolytes makes sure to drink Gatorade or a sports drink to keep these at acceptable levels.
•    For continued stomach alignments you might want to consider drinking some ginger tea.  You can simply add ginger to any tea if you do not have anything prepackaged.  Just make sure to strain the ginger.
•    Take a piece of blackened toast and eat all the black parts and discard the remaining; the blackened pieces with absorb the poisons.

Some things that should be avoided when you have food poisoning are:

•    Avoid solid foods
•    While you might be tempted to take an antacid for your stomach this should be avoided as the acid in the stomach is what helps to break down the bacteria from the food poisoning.
•    Do not drink alcohol or sugary beverages

In conclusion, food poisoning will more than likely strike you or someone you know, so, if you need a natural remedy follow any of the above ideas; but, as a final reminder, if the pain persists and the symptoms are worsening make sure to get medical attention right away.

Natural Remedy for Anxiety III

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This is the third and final article being written about natural remedy for anxiety; in it we will look at some additional means to help with anxiety.  These remedies are both common and uncommon and may surprise you at times.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B is assists to monitor the body’s responsiveness to stress and balances the nervous system.  Having a regular dose of vitamin B, whether as a pill or in your diet will aide in keep those things regulated properly.  It is best if this is taken in conjunction with other necessary nutrient.

Massage Therapy

The various forms of massage, shiatsu, yoga, etc. are a great ways you can reduce your stress and lower anxiety levels.  These are also cost effective and do not always require ongoing treatment for the results to be seen.  If you work load or life load is increasing stress then taking time out for a session is recommended.

Green Tea

Green tea is a natural remedy for anxiety because, most green teas have an amino acid in it that helps reduce your stress, L-Theanine.  This amino acid also helps to build your immune system and has additional medical benefits that are still being discovered.  In a regular diet of green tea, some might consume up to 200-400 mgs of L-Theanine daily; providing a very natural way to combat anxiety.

In these articles for ‘Natural Remedy for Anxiety’ it was reviewed how there are many ways that can assist individuals with their anxiety.  It was certainly implied but may need a further clarification that none of the information here should be construed as advice and you should consult your doctor whenever looking to treat your anxiety.

Anxiety and anxiety attacks are not to be trifled with because; they can lead to serious affects on a person both emotional and physical.  Those who suffer with prolonged anxiety attacks have succumb to bouts of depression which, if left untreated, can be life threatening.  While in the search of a natural remedy, each person should not only search these natural means, but also, look to a professional for guidance.

As has been mentioned, there are many other ways one can treat anxiety (breathing exercises, regularly scheduled break from work, etc) and so these three articles were not meant to be exhaustive by any way.  Please feel free to share how these articles have been a help with your anxiety.

Natural Remedy Guide for Anxiety II

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The symptoms of an anxiety attack can include heart palpitations, heart burn, sudden loss of breathe, increase in blood pressure, sweating and possible digestive malfunctions.  These can last anywhere from a few minutes, to hours on end for some people.  Anxiety can affect the emotional and physical well being and can be treated with a natural remedy.

In the first article, ‘Natural Remedy Guide for Anxiety I’ we examined how body health can assist with lowering anxiety and in this article we will see how the use of natural herbs can affect you for the better

Passionflower

The most common herb that has been used to help with anxiety is Passionflower.  Passionflower was used among the American Indians as a treatment for sleeping disorders, anxiety and epilepsy.  They would take the leaf or root from the passion flower and mix it with a tea, after some time the anxiety would subside providing a natural remedy.

The reason the passionflower is a natural remedy for anxiety is that it stimulates higher levels of gamma-aminobutric acids in the brain.  These additional gamma-aminobutric acid acts as a sedative for some brain cell which results in a more relaxed state for the individual.

The Passionflower, also known as Maypop fruit, is grown in the southeastern United States.  The natural amount of sun that is in this region of the United States is what this Maypop fruit needs to flourish.  It has a growing season from May until July and the resulting herb is a small berry.  This berry can be ingested or mashed into a jelly.

Valerian

While the use of this medicinal plant for anxiety isn’t nearly as extensive as Passionflower the effects on some mild forms of anxiety have been documented.   The natural remedy of Valerian occurs by the individual taking this primarily in a pill form.

Valerian is mostly found in Europe and parts of Asia which favors this plants growth in a cooler, wet climate.  The plant can be found among the marches around Britain and are normally in bloom from June until September.

This herb does have some side effects so you should consult a doctor before taking this herb.  Some of the side effects include mild indigestion, headaches or dizziness.   It is also recommended not to take this herb with other medications as there can be additional side effects.

There are many other herbs (Kava, Saint-John’s wort, etc.) that provide a natural remedy for anxiety but these two are those that are most frequently used.   These herbs can be found at most health stores or you can ask your local pharmacists for assistance.

Natural Remedy Guide for Anxiety I

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Anxiety is an unsettling of the mind brought on by fear of the known and unknown.  While it is a normal part of life, it can be overpowering for some, leaving them in a state of helplessness.  There are many types of prescription drugs that can used to treat anxiety; diazepam, lorazepam, clonazapam, to name just a few; but, those who suffer with anxiety are often looking for a Natural Remedy.

We will examine a number of natural remedies for anxiety and by the time you are done reading these articles you will be able to help yourself or a loved one overcome their anxiety.

The first natural remedy we will examine is body health.  Taking care of your body through a few simple disciplines can remove allot of the anxiety that you feel as a result of life’s problems.

Exercise

  • It is a well documented fact that when we exercise the body releases the ‘happy chemical’ into our body called Endorphins.  Endorphins’ provide a natural high that lifts our spirits and helps us to deal better with stress.
  • 20 minutes of running, walking, jobs or light cardio in the morning and evening is recommended.

Sleep

  • If you are not sleeping the proper amount of hours each night for your age and sex then you are adding additional stress to your body and results in more anxiety.
  • It is best as an adult to get between 7 & 9 hours a sleep a night

Diet

  • It is no surprise that the foods we eat are reflecting on the body imagine and mental health of our society.  We are fatter than we have ever been and the rise of anxiety is reflected in this.  When we are overweight we have to expend more energy while at the same time not exercising enough to carry the weight.  It is a vicious cycle.
  • Cutting back on fatty foods and foods with high or saturated fats will assist in keeping our weight in check and result in less anxiety.
  • In addition to that a healthy intake of milk, bananas, oats, and nuts can help you specifically ward off your anxiety.  The reason for this is because these foods contain healthy levels tryptophan, which is a mood elevating chemical in the brain.

As you can see this natural remedy would be easy to implement and you don’t have to change much to see a change in your anxiety.  However, this is just one natural remedy and may not provide all the solutions you need for your anxiety.